The Hindu : National : Prisoners cut down on food for puja

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Wednesday, Sep 27, 2006
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Prisoners cut down on food for puja

Antara Das

They have saved rations to prepare special dishes during the festival

Kolkata: For the past one month, convicts lodged in the six Central correctional homes in West Bengal have consumed only half of the total food to which they are entitled.

It is a gesture free of any element of coercion as those deemed too dangerous for society gear up to celebrate Durga Puja, the biggest event on the social calendar, on their own premises.

"The prisoners willingly agree to deductions in their diet, especially the meat and fish entitlements," says B.D. Sharma, Inspector General of Correctional Services, West Bengal. "The saved rations are pooled together to prepare special dishes for them during the Puja days," he adds. The onus of organising the Pujas is left to the Prison Panchayat, a body elected by the prisoners from among themselves under the West Bengal Correctional Services Act, 1992, and which, among several other functions, is expected to look after the various recreational activities inside the prison.

The Panchayat raises funds to finance the festival with donations from inmates and at times, contributions from the staff. "But the bulk of the finance usually comes from the rich under trial prisoners, who are able to provide hefty donations," says Mr. Sharma.

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